2023 PRCA Media Guide - All Chapters

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

Zeke Thurston Adds Third World Title to Resume

Zeke Thurston knows championships. But this was different. Despite a terrific showing at the National Finals Rodeo, he figured his luck was running out in Las Vegas. Not only did he need a big score in the final round, but his path to a title required help. The scattered pieces fell into place. The 28-year-old clinched the saddle bronc champion ship, winning this third crown with an 88.5-point ride on Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin. This gold buckle came with a notable accomplishment. Thurston set a PRCA single-season bronc riding record with $399,316. “This one was probably the hardest one I have ever had. I had to work for this one,”Thurston said of his third title, joining those in 2016 and 2019. “The other 14 guys in the room are crazy talented and ride awesome. I had quite a bit of money to make up coming in here. I just knew that if I made the best ride I could on every horse and kept placing in the rounds I would give myself a fighting chance. Having my family and everybody here made this really special.” Thurston reached his goal in a fashion unfa miliar to him. He aims to win rounds, comfortable adopting an aggressive strategy. At this NFR, he was as much substance as style. He won the average with a score of 876.5 points on 10 head. The Big Valley, Alberta, native placed in nine rounds. It allowed him to clinch the world title in a photo finish with standouts Lefty Holman, Sage Newman and Stetson Wright. The average was not average. It was anything but. “I am not usually an average-kind-of guy. It definitely helps. But I darn sure didn’t come here with the mindset to win the average. When it comes down to it, it can make-or-break you,” Thurston explained. “To be the guy leading it coming in, I would almost rather not have been in that position because it starts playing tricks on your mind. I just blocked it all out and went and made the best possible ride (in round 10).” It was in round four where Thurston’s dream began to crystallize. Riding Heaven on Earth from Championship Pro Rodeo, the 28-year-old scored an 88.5, igniting the crowd at Thomas & Mack Center. “It was unridden, but I figured, you know, they are all going to get ridden at some point so why not

be the guy,” said Thurston after pocketing $28,914 for the round win.“She was a really big, strong stud horse that bucked hard. I was able to get ahead of her and luckily, I stayed on.” Nothing with Thurston happens by accident. He fashions a plan, sharpens his focus and never loses his confidence. “For me, my biggest confidence comes from my spur outs, and I was really confident. On a horse like that, that’s where you’re going to thrive. I always go with that and win, lose, or draw, we’re going to start the process all over again the next day,” Thurston said. “So, you might as well lay it all out there and see what you get.” Thurston will always have something to remind him of what he got – a third gold buckle, a testa ment to his talent, and in 2022, his consistency. – Brady Renck

2022 WORLD CHAMPIONS

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Phil Doyle

Canadian Zeke Thurston collected his third world championship of his career in 2022.

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2023 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE